NEW DELHI: Union Budget 2024 on Tuesday opened floodgates of goodies for “ally” states Andhra Pradesh and Bihar – reflecting the political compulsion of Modi 3.0 government which is dependent on the support of Chandrababu Naidu and Nitish Kumar for its survival.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi may not have accepted the demand for “special category status” for the two states, but his finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced several schemes and incentives to keep the two leaders in good humour.From tourism and industry push in Bihar to capital needs of Andhra Pradesh, Sitharaman’s Budget had a lot for the two states.
Chandrababu Naidu’s TDP with 16 members in Lok Sabha and Nitish Kumar’s Janata Dal (United) with 12 members play a crucial role in keeping the NDA 3.0 government afloat after the BJP could manage only 240 seats, 32 short of majority, in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
Bonanza for Andhra Pradesh
Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman in her Budget speech announced special financial support of Rs 15,000 crore for the new capital of Andhra Pradesh in the current financial year and also promised additional amounts in future.
The Centre also committed itself to financing and early completion of the Polavaram Irrigation Project, calling it the lifeline for Andhra Pradesh and its farmers.
The Budget also pushed for industrial development of the state as it promised funds for essential infrastructure such as water, power, railways and roads in Kopparthy node on the Vishakhapatnam-Chennai Industrial Corridor and Orvakal node on Hyderabad-Bengaluru Industrial Corridor.
Sitharaman also announced additional allocation towards capital investment for economic growth of the state and grants for backward regions of Rayalaseema, Prakasam and North Coastal Andhra, as stated in the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act.
Special focus on Bihar
The other state to benefit hugely from Modi government’s Budget largesse is Bihar. Sitharaman announced to provide additional allocation to support capital investments in the state and promised to expedite requests of Bihar government for external assistance from multilateral development banks.
The Budget announced support for comprehensive development of Vishnupad Temple Corridor and Mahabodhi Temple Corridor, which have been modelled on the successful Kashi Vishwanath Temple Corridor, to transform them into world class pilgrim and tourist destinations.
Sitharaman also promised Centre’s support for development of road connectivity projects in the state at a cost of Rs 26,000 crore. The projects that found mention in the Budget included: Patna-Purnea Expressway, Buxar-Bhagalpur Expressway, Bodhgaya, Rajgir, Vaishali and Darbhanga spurs, and additional 2-lane bridge over river Ganga at Buxar.
The Centre announced support of Rs 21,400 crore for setting up of a new 2400 MW power plant at Pirpainti and spoke of constructing new airports, medical colleges and sports infrastructure in the state.
Naidu, Nitish thank PM Modi
Andhra chief minister Chandrababu Naidu and his Bihar counterpart Nitish Kumar were quick to thank Prime Minister Modi and finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman.
“On behalf of the people of Andhra Pradesh, I thank the Hon’ble Prime Minister, @narendramodi Ji and Hon’ble Union Finance Minister, @nsitharaman Ji, for recognising the needs of our State and focusing on a Capital, Polavaram, industrial nodes and development of backward areas in AP in the union budget of FY 24-25. This support from the Centre will go a long way towards rebuilding Andhra Pradesh. I congratulate you on the presentation of this progressive and confidence-boosting budget,” Naidu said in a statement.
Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar claimed victory over Budget allocations for the state. “I told them (NDA) to either give us a special status or a special package. As a follow-up, they have announced aid for a lot of things. We were demanding special status and a lot of people said that provision for special status has been done away with. So, instead of that, aid should be given for helping Bihar which has now started,” Nitish Kumar said.
‘Kursi Bachao Budget’
With so much of focus on the two states, the opposition was quick to call Modi 3.0 first Budget as “Kursi bachao Budget”. ” ‘Kursi Bachao’ Budget. Appease Allies: Hollow promises to them at the cost of other states. Appease Cronies: Benefits to AA with no relief for the common Indian. Copy and Paste: Congress manifesto and previous budgets,” Rahul Gandhi posted on X.
Congress alleged that several announcements in the Budget were copy-pasted from the party’s 2024 manifesto. Senior P Chidambaram took a swipe at the government and said he is glad that finance minister Sitharaman has read the Congress 2024 manifesto after the Lok Sabha poll results.
In a post on X, Chidambaram said, “I am glad to know that the Hon’ble FM has read the Congress Manifesto LS 2024 after the election results. I am happy she has virtually adopted the Employment-linked incentive (ELI) outlined on page 30 of the Congress Manifesto.”
“I am also happy that she has introduced the Apprenticeship scheme along with an allowance to every apprentice spelt out on page 11 of the Congress Manifesto. I wish the FM had copied some other ideas in the Congress Manifesto. I shall shortly list the missed opportunities,” the former finance minister said.
(With inputs from agencies)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi may not have accepted the demand for “special category status” for the two states, but his finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced several schemes and incentives to keep the two leaders in good humour.From tourism and industry push in Bihar to capital needs of Andhra Pradesh, Sitharaman’s Budget had a lot for the two states.
Chandrababu Naidu’s TDP with 16 members in Lok Sabha and Nitish Kumar’s Janata Dal (United) with 12 members play a crucial role in keeping the NDA 3.0 government afloat after the BJP could manage only 240 seats, 32 short of majority, in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
Bonanza for Andhra Pradesh
Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman in her Budget speech announced special financial support of Rs 15,000 crore for the new capital of Andhra Pradesh in the current financial year and also promised additional amounts in future.
The Centre also committed itself to financing and early completion of the Polavaram Irrigation Project, calling it the lifeline for Andhra Pradesh and its farmers.
The Budget also pushed for industrial development of the state as it promised funds for essential infrastructure such as water, power, railways and roads in Kopparthy node on the Vishakhapatnam-Chennai Industrial Corridor and Orvakal node on Hyderabad-Bengaluru Industrial Corridor.
Sitharaman also announced additional allocation towards capital investment for economic growth of the state and grants for backward regions of Rayalaseema, Prakasam and North Coastal Andhra, as stated in the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act.
Special focus on Bihar
The other state to benefit hugely from Modi government’s Budget largesse is Bihar. Sitharaman announced to provide additional allocation to support capital investments in the state and promised to expedite requests of Bihar government for external assistance from multilateral development banks.
The Budget announced support for comprehensive development of Vishnupad Temple Corridor and Mahabodhi Temple Corridor, which have been modelled on the successful Kashi Vishwanath Temple Corridor, to transform them into world class pilgrim and tourist destinations.
Sitharaman also promised Centre’s support for development of road connectivity projects in the state at a cost of Rs 26,000 crore. The projects that found mention in the Budget included: Patna-Purnea Expressway, Buxar-Bhagalpur Expressway, Bodhgaya, Rajgir, Vaishali and Darbhanga spurs, and additional 2-lane bridge over river Ganga at Buxar.
The Centre announced support of Rs 21,400 crore for setting up of a new 2400 MW power plant at Pirpainti and spoke of constructing new airports, medical colleges and sports infrastructure in the state.
Naidu, Nitish thank PM Modi
Andhra chief minister Chandrababu Naidu and his Bihar counterpart Nitish Kumar were quick to thank Prime Minister Modi and finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman.
“On behalf of the people of Andhra Pradesh, I thank the Hon’ble Prime Minister, @narendramodi Ji and Hon’ble Union Finance Minister, @nsitharaman Ji, for recognising the needs of our State and focusing on a Capital, Polavaram, industrial nodes and development of backward areas in AP in the union budget of FY 24-25. This support from the Centre will go a long way towards rebuilding Andhra Pradesh. I congratulate you on the presentation of this progressive and confidence-boosting budget,” Naidu said in a statement.
Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar claimed victory over Budget allocations for the state. “I told them (NDA) to either give us a special status or a special package. As a follow-up, they have announced aid for a lot of things. We were demanding special status and a lot of people said that provision for special status has been done away with. So, instead of that, aid should be given for helping Bihar which has now started,” Nitish Kumar said.
‘Kursi Bachao Budget’
With so much of focus on the two states, the opposition was quick to call Modi 3.0 first Budget as “Kursi bachao Budget”. ” ‘Kursi Bachao’ Budget. Appease Allies: Hollow promises to them at the cost of other states. Appease Cronies: Benefits to AA with no relief for the common Indian. Copy and Paste: Congress manifesto and previous budgets,” Rahul Gandhi posted on X.
Congress alleged that several announcements in the Budget were copy-pasted from the party’s 2024 manifesto. Senior P Chidambaram took a swipe at the government and said he is glad that finance minister Sitharaman has read the Congress 2024 manifesto after the Lok Sabha poll results.
In a post on X, Chidambaram said, “I am glad to know that the Hon’ble FM has read the Congress Manifesto LS 2024 after the election results. I am happy she has virtually adopted the Employment-linked incentive (ELI) outlined on page 30 of the Congress Manifesto.”
“I am also happy that she has introduced the Apprenticeship scheme along with an allowance to every apprentice spelt out on page 11 of the Congress Manifesto. I wish the FM had copied some other ideas in the Congress Manifesto. I shall shortly list the missed opportunities,” the former finance minister said.
(With inputs from agencies)